Darlington chairman John Parkinson admits his club's fairytale Tetley's Bitter Cup run is set to hit the buffers after the northern part-timers were paired with city slickers Harlequins in the last 16.

The Mowden Park director of rugby, who hailed the club's 23-11 fourth-round victory over Rosslyn Park as "the greatest day in the club's history" , was in resigned mood after the fifth-round draw handed them a trip to the capital.

"We've got some people down there who will have a look at them but it's a really tough one, there is such a gulf between the Premiership and the rest," he said.

"There is a sense of inevitability but we'll go and enjoy the occasion. We were hoping for a home draw but at this stage of the competition you are not going to get a soft option. It's been tremendous to get as far as we have."

Five divisions separate Quins from the North Two club, who are made up entirely of part-time players but who still managed to put out higher-ranked opposition in Sandal, Sedgley Park and Rosslyn Park in their gallant run so far.

Ten-times Cup winners Bath and struggling Bedford were the Premiership casualties from yesterday's fourth round ties and four more top-flight sides will go out before the quarter-finals.

Among four all-Premiership One ties, holders Wasps will meet Newcastle in a repeat of last year's final, while reigning league champions Leicester, who like Wasps received a bye into the fifth round, take on London Irish at The Stoop.

Thankfully it is a home draw and I suppose we would have had to play Leicester at some time so the next round might be as good a time as any," said London Irish director of rugby Dick Best.

Five of the eight ties, to be played on the weekend of January 29-30, will be in the capital, with Saracens drawing Northampton in another cracker.

Gloucester, the current Allied Dunbar Premiership leaders, were rewarded for their 13-6 win over Bath with another home tie, this time against Second Division Orrell, who went through after outscoring Rugby two tries to one in a 13-13 draw.

Manchester, in the last 16 for the first time in the club's history, have been handed a glorious chance to reach the quarter-finals with a home tie against Birmingham/Solihull.